John L Connell
MilitaryUploaded on behalf of Michael Fontanarosa.
On 21-Sep-43 while serving as Radio Operator/Gunner in B-26B 41-31721 'Cactus Jack' 387BG/559BS his aircraft was despatched with 36 other B-26s to bomb the German airfield of Beauvais/Tillie, France. The aircraft sustained major damage from AA fire over the target and he and the rest of the crew baled out of the stricken aircraft. He along one other of his crewmates managed to evade capture, 5 others were captured as Prisoners of War (POW) The aircraft crashed about two miles northeast of the target.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Cactus Jack
- Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 21 September 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Willingale
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Evaded Capture (EVD) |
21 September 1943 - 12 February 1944 | Baled out of stricken aircraft and managed to evade capture. He returned to England on 12-Feb-44. His evasion is recorded on E&E Report 261 which may be viewed at: media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-261.pdf. |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added NEW person entry. All data based on MACR 614; "Losses of the 8th 7 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; National Archives Records Administration (NARA) Escape and Evasion Report 261 media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-261.pdf.